Nucleus Nexa Cochlear Implant with Auracast and Firmware Updates

Key Takeaways

1. Firmware Updates: The Nucleus Nexus cochlear implant allows users to receive firmware updates without needing surgery, keeping the device current with technical advancements.

2. Personalized Mapping: The implant features memory for personalized sound maps, which can be quickly transferred to a new processor if the original is lost.

3. Compatibility: The Nexus implant works with both Kanso 3 Nexa and Nucleus 8 Nexa sound processors, which offer a battery life of up to 16 hours.

4. Bluetooth and Device Support: It supports Bluetooth Auracast and is compatible with various devices, including iPhones, Android phones, and Amazon’s Fire TV.

5. Variety of Colors: The new sound processors are available in six different colors, allowing for personalization.

Cochlear has recently unveiled a new and innovative cochlear implant called the Nucleus Nexus. One of its standout features is the ability to receive firmware updates, allowing users to benefit from technical advancements without needing to undergo an expensive surgical procedure to replace the implant.

Personalized Auditory Experience

The implant is equipped with memory for maps, which are personalized settings that shape how cochlear implant users perceive sound. In the event that the external sound processor is misplaced, the maps can be swiftly transferred to a new device. As stated by Cochlear, this new implant includes electrodes that are positioned on the auditory nerve and is remarkably slim, measuring only 3.9 mm.

Compatibility and Battery Life

The Nexus implant works with both the Kanso 3 Nexa off-the-ear sound processor and the Nucleus 8 Nexa behind-the-ear sound processor. Both processors boast a battery life of up to 16 hours, which Cochlear advertises as a full day of usage. However, actual battery performance may differ among users based on various factors, including mapping settings, skin thickness between the implant and processor, and exposure to sound. Naturally, louder environments can drain batteries more quickly, and the age of the devices and batteries also affects their lifespan. Cochlear suggests that they typically work well for five years before replacement is necessary.

Additional Features and Compatibility

The new system also supports Bluetooth Auracast, a feature carried over from the previous Kanso 3 and Nucleus 8 sound processors (both without Nexa). It’s unclear whether the Nucleus 8 Nexa still supports telecoil functionality. In terms of device compatibility, the Nexus implant remains consistent with iPhones, Android devices from Google or Samsung, and Amazon’s Fire TV with ASHA (Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids). The compatibility list includes both Nexa and non-Nexa devices for Kanso 3 and Nucleus 8.

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